The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-11-10

play was formerly flnely.cut paper, pre-.
pared BY bookbinders; in ifs place
white kid in equally a. small pieces 10
utilized ct present for such purposes.
They can be gathered up more readily
and last longer than paper, besides the
ultimate saving In cost. Salt hangs
with better effect to hat or coat, and
gives thoroughly realistic look TO the
character that has Just stepped in.
doors from the storm. II Q flash
Of lightning 10 needed, the effect can be
gained, where electric lights are burned,
by rapidly switching the current. The
time-honored scheme is to flash Q torch
of alcohol, rosin or lacapodium. Stage
thunder is the rustling of sheet Of iron
suspended from rafter and Get into
noisy motion by long handle. A more
effective way 10 to roll heavy cannon
balls along gutter with breaks in It
after the fashion Of those seen in ten-pin
alleys. This contrivance gives more dis
tance to the sound. Iron switches punched
like broom wisp when beaten to-
gether will give forth the imitation
r.d ns n.p d,SRpn and ah.t beams : s,sS
In the "White Slave" water IL utilized.
The bowling wind comes from q wheel
that forces the air violently through q
big tin funnel with q whistle at the
smaller end. The audience shivers at It,
but it may have only been the ancient
wind" the property-man makes by draw.
ing his thumb and index finger down q
rosined string running through hole in
little tin boz such % coffee essence 10
packed in. That 10 the trick Of the
wind In "Davy Crockett" when the
wolves are at the cabin door. Tempest
tossed waves and their white caps that
meet the eye of the liberated Count Of
Monte Cristo as he stands on ocean rock
beyond the Chateau DIFF and announces
with Georgian assurance, 1.-THE world is
mine," are but q few bags of saltpetre, or
plain salt tossed ON green cloth against
q scene. The mighty motions of the sea
that awe the small boy IN the gallery
who has "Romany Rye" on the brain
comprise the united efforts of four
men, two on either side of the stage,
who shake length of emerald baize
known as 'sea CLOTH" This prop.
erty showed to excellent advantage
in the opera of the "Flying Dutchman,"
when rendered by the National Opera
Company, and In "The World" by the
Boston Museum Combination. A pair
of wooden squares covered with sand
paper and rubbed together announces
the coming of the engine in "Across the
Continent" A wisp of wires does SIM
liar service for the locomotive in 1.-THE
Main Line" The warning whistle as the
supposed train reaches the station is the
steam escaping from whistle after the
property-man has turned it loose.
The exigency is suited by large tin
whistle, If there is no steam gen.
Grated In the theatre. CheeSful, in
deed, looked the fire ON the hearth in the
kitchen Of Hazel Kirke's home, when
she quilted It for the castle of Arthur
Caringford. Gas jets and colored glass
caused the illusion. To be kicked down
stairs should be severe punishment; 1t
seems doubly so when down on the stage
for the crash crank, machine with lot
of loose shingles working on a cog
makes the Juror all the greater.
Once In q while gentleman Is fired
through paper window and in his descent
apparently knocks into smithereens q
skylight. A demijohn wicker cover in
tact, holding broken glass, dropped a.
the actor takes flight, consummates the
disaster to the ignominious character.
This "fake" incites the risibilities of the
humorously inclined as soon as It is hit
on the stage, to suit the language of q
servant, who, with horror on his face,
says he let fall the supper dishes on the
landing outside. A steam pipe, or, when
not convenient, Stacked lime, will cause q
semblance of dust or smoke in earth
quakes and explosions.
A poorly equipped theatre II is, in
deed, that has not around genius who
can bark like dog or crow after the
manner Of q cock. A wonder to an
audience is how change is wrought so
rapidly from interior to exterior scenes
in "The Shraughran," "Youth," and
other plays where no frames are pushed
together or "drops" used. The trans.
formation is in view of the people, yet
they see no indications of men pushing
nothing but roundabout movement,
and the change is done. The secret is
that in the scene are partitions
large enough for men to stand upright
between them, and when the "cue" is
spoken they walk inside the scene, taking
one part from sight as they go and turn
ing to the gaze Of the audience another
of an entirely different nature. Realistic
properties are steadily encroaching ON
the art of the property-man. A cage of
lions in Theodore" horses in "Jalma,"
kerry Cow" and dozens of other plays,
babies galore hired with their mothers,
elephants and camels in 1.-THE Fall of
Babylon" bloodhounds in "Uncle Toms
Cabin" are but forerunners of an era
that will leave nothing "faked" but the
scenery. FELIX BARNLEY.
EXAMPLES TO CHILDREN.